AMN
Nagaland chief minister T R Zeliang called on the Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi yesterday. Mr Zeliang briefed the home minister on the demand of various state groups to defer the assembly elections in order to facilitate a solution to the seven-decade-old Naga insurgency.
Home Minister said negotiations of various Naga groups with the interlocutor will continue. Mr Singh also said, that announcing the dates for assembly elections is the prerogative of the Election Committee and the elections have to be held on schedule. He said any reports to the contrary are incorrect.
The term of the 60-member Nagaland assembly expires on March this year, but at least nine pressure groups, including the powerful Naga Mother’s Association and Naga Hoho, have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to defer the elections and impose President’s Rule in order to facilitate a peaceful solution to the insurgency.